Automatic harmonica instructor



Oct. 20, 1953 A. BALlN-r 2,655,830

AUTOMATIC HARMONICA INSTRUCTOR Filed Oct. lO, 1950 '2 Sheets-Sheet l MYCol/N TRY T16 or 1HE:

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AUTOMATIC HARMONICA INSTRUCTOR Filed Oct. 10, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 21234|5G78910 l l ATTE] RN EYS Patented Oct. 20, 1953 UNIT-ED STATESPATENT OFFICE Y `assetato AUTOMATIC HARMONICA 'INSTRUCTOR Anthony.Balint, New York, N. Y.

`Application October 10, 1950, SerlalNo. 189,432 sclaims. (o1. :i4- 377)This invention relates to an :attachment for harmonicas, and kmoreparticularly to adevice for helping or aiding a student to learn to playthe harmonica.

The object of the invention is to provide an attachment for a harmonicawhereby the playing of melodies on the harmonica will be greatlyfacilitated, the attachment being adjustable for different persons.

Another object of the invention is to provide an instruction attachmentfor a harmonica which includes a slidable member that is adapted to bemoved bythe student so that notes ron the harmonica can be accurately.sounded so as to correspond to notes on an instruction card.

A further object of the invention is to provide an automatic harmonicainstructor which is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects yand advantages will be apparent during the course of theAfollowing description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, and 'inwhich like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout thesame:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the attachment of the presentinvention mounted on a conventional harmonica;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the assembly of Figure .1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an elevational view of the pointer element;

Figure 5 is a sectional view vtaken on the line 5--5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a rear elevationaliview of the mouthpiece;

Figure '7 is a sectional view taken on the line 'l--l of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is an elevational View of the cardholding frame;

Figure 9 is .a sectional view 'taken on the line 9-9 of Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a rear elevational view of the body member;

Figure 11 is a sectional view taken on the line H-II of Figure 10;

Figure 12 is an elevational view of the trebler element;

Figure 13 is a sectional View taken on the line |3-I3 ofFigure 12;

Figure 14 is an elevational view of the indicating scale or card;

Figure l5 .is a perspective view of a modified mouthpiece.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the .numeral 3D vdesignates aAconventional harmonica or mouth organ, 4broken lines, Figure 3. Thepresent invention is directed to an assembly for attachment to theharmonica 30, whereby a student can readily and quickly learn to playmelodies or songs. The assembly includes a holder 3l U-shape in crosssection which comprises a pair of spaced, parallel side walls 32 and 33which are arranged on opposite sides of the harmonica 3U. Each of theexterior surfaces of the side walls 32 and 33 is provided with alongitudinally extending trackway 34, Figure 2.

Slidably connected `to the holder 3| is a ybody member 35, the bodymember 35 including a main portion 36, and projecting from the mainportion 36 is ya pair .of spaced Wings 31 each of which carries rballbearings -38 for slidably engaging the track-ways '34. The wings 5Fl aremaintained connected to the main portion 36 by means of reinforcingvstrips 39.

Carried by the body member 35 is a trebler element 4S, Figures 12 and13. By means of the trebler element 40, the amount of air blown into orsucked through the harmonica can be regulated so that the user canaccurately control the tone qualities of the melody being played. Thetrebler element is manually operated and includes a stationary ,housing4l that has a bar 42 movably mounted therein. The bar 42 is providedwith a plurality of spaced `openings 43 that are adapted to .move into.and `out of registry with the spaced openings 44 in the housing 4l uponmovement of the bar 42 by means of the nger clip 45. A kspring 4.6normally urges the bar 42 `into the position shown in Figures l2 and 13.The body member 35 is provided with a plurality of spaced openings 41,Figure 10, and a strip 48 divides the openings 41 into two parts.Suitable pieces of leather 49 are provided for preventing the bodymember 35 from accidentally scratching or otherwise damaging theharmonica.

vMounted on the front end `of the body member 35 is a .mouthpiece 50which may be fabricated of any suitable material, such as plastic, themouthpiece being provided with a socket 5|, Figures 6 and 7, forreceiving therein the projecting front portion of lthe lbody member 35.Thus, upon movement of the mouthpiece 5G, there will be a correspondingmovement of the body member 35. The mouthpiece 50 is provided with onlya single opening 52, whereby only one note of the harmonica will besounded at one time. Ir" desired, the mouthpiece 53 has the openings 54therein, Figure 15, can 'be used in lieu of .the

mouthpiece 50, but when the mouthpiece 53 is being used, there will beno instruction cards used with the assembly.

Projecting rearwardly from the bottom of the mouthpiece 50 is anelongated arm 51. A support member 55 is provided with a slot 56 forslidably receiving therein the arm 51, whereby the support member can bemoved or adjusted longitudinally along the arm 51. It will be seen thatas the mouthpiece 50 is moved along the harmonica 3l) during the playingof a melody, the arm 51 will move, and this will cause correspondingmovement of the support member 55.

Projecting rearwardly from the holder 3| or formed integrally therewithis a bracket 58 which is provided with a large rectangular cutout 59.The support member 65 is provided with a slot 60, Figure 5, for slidablyreceiving therein a portion of the bracket 58. The bracket 58 includes aweb portion El that terminates in a vertically disposed, card-holdingcasing 62. The casing 52 includes retaining lips 29 and is adapted toreleasably or detachably support the cord 63 therein. the card 63 havingwords and numbers thereon of the song or melody to be played, Figure 1.The card 63 can be readily replaced when desired, and certain of thenumbers on the card E3 can be colored in distinctive colors or providedwith stars so that the student will know when to blow in or suck airthrough the harmonica.

Formed integrally with the support member 55 or secured thereto is amovable pointer element 64, the pointer element 64 moving as the supportmember 55 moves. Extending upwardly from the rear of. the support member55 is a separate frame 65 and flanges 66 which are arranged along theedges of the frame 55 to dene a casing for holding therein a card 61having two sets of numbers 58 and 59 printed or stamped thereon. Thesesets of numbers S8 and 68 correspond to the numbers on the card 63 andalso to the numbers on the holes of the harmonica. The pointer elementis provided with a pair of windows 18 and 1| which are of sufcient sizeto permit only one of the numbers in the sets oi numbers 68 and 69 to beviewed at one time.

A pin 12 projects through registering holes 13 and 14 in the supportmember 55, and the pin 12 also projects through a longitudinallyextending slot 15 in the frame B5, whereby the support member 55 will beable to slide independently of the frame 65 and yet these parts will bemaintained in their assembled relation. The frame 65 is also providedwith attaching ears 16 for connecting this member to the other parts.Suitable arrows 1'! surround the windows 1I, while other arrows 18surround the windows 12.

In use, the proper card 63 is positioned in the casing 65, according tothe song that is to be played. Then, with the mouthpiece 50 in the usersmouth, the mouthpiece can be moved along the harmonica. This movement ofthe mouthpiece i! by the users mouth causes the body member 35 to moveand also causes the arm 51 to move. As the arm 51 moves, a correspondingmovement of the support member 55 is effected, and this results in thepointer element 64 moving. The pointer element 54 is moved until thewindows 1i) and 1I indicate or show that the pointer element 64 islocated at the proper position. Thus, when the number appearing throughthe windows or 1l corresponds with the number of the note on the card 63then the pointer element 64 the card 63 indicates to the student whetherto blow in or suck air through the harmonica, or stars may be used forthe same purpose. Also, the pair of windows 10 and 1I enable personshaving different qualities of vision, such as nearsighted persons, touse the attachment, and the pair of windows 10 and 1| also indicate tothe user when the instrument is correctly aligned. The trebler element40 provides a manually operable means for controlling the ilow of airinto and out of the harmonica, so that the tonal qualities can beregulated. Also, the support member 55 can be adjusted longitudinallyalong the arms 51.

For example, if the student is about to sound the note corresponding tothe word of on the card 63, the pointer element 64 is located until thenumber 5 appears through the window 10 or the window 1 I. Then, thestudent either blows or sucks, depending upon the color of the number onthe card 63. After that note has been sounded, the pointer element 64 ismoved until it is positioned in the proper location for the next note.

The parts oi the attachment can be made of any suitable material, suchas plastic or metal. The card E3 is replaceable so that, depending uponthe song being played, there will be a diierent card for each song.

I claim:

l. In combination, a harmonica, a hollow holder including a pair ofspaced parallel side walls arranged on opposite sides of said harmonica,the front end of said holder being open, there being a trackway arrangedin the exterior surface of each of said side walls, a body member havinga pair of spaced wings projecting therefrom, ball bearing carried bysaid wings for engagement with said trackways, a trebler element carriedby said body member, a mouthpiece mounted on said body member andprovided with a single opening therein, an arm projecting rearwardlyfrom said mouthpiece, a support member arranged rearwardly of saidharmonica and mounted for longitudinal movement along said arm, abracket projecting rearwardly from said holder and secured thereto, saidsupport member being mounted for transverse sliding movement along saidbracket, a stationary card-holding frame extending upwardly from saidsupport member, a pointer element provided with a pair of spaced windowsformed integrally with said support member, and a frame arrangedrearwardly of said last-named card holding frame for supporting a cardhaving musical indicia thereon.

2. In combination, a harmonica, a hollow holder including a pair ofspaced parallel side walls arranged on opposite sides of said harmonica,the front end of said holder being open, there being a trackway arrangedin the exterior surface of each of said side walls, a body member havinga pair of spaced wings projecting therefrom, ball bearings carried bysaid wings for engagement with said trackways, a trebler element carriedby said body member, a mouthpiece mounted on said body member andprovided with a single opening therein, an arm projecting rearwardlyfrom said mouthpiece, a support member arranged rearwardly of saidharmonica and mounted for longitudinal movement along said arm, abracket projecting rearwardly from said holder and secured thereto, saidsupport member being mounted for transverse sliding movement along saidbracket, a stationary card-holding is properly located. The color of thenote on frame extending upwardly from said support member, a pointerelement provided With a pair of spaced windows formed integrally withsaid support member, and a frame arranged rearwardly of said last-namedcard holding frame for supporting a card having musical indicia thereon,said last-named card holding frame being detachably supported in saidsupport member.

3. A harmonica playing device comprising a holder U-shape in crosssection having side walls positioned to extend on opposite sides of ahormonica, a body member having a pair of spaced wings extended over theside walls of the holder and slidably mounted on said side walls forlongitudinal travel of the holder, a mouthpiece having a single openingtherein mounted on said body member and having an arm extendedtherefrom, said arm positioned on one side of the holder and extendedbeyond the holder, a bracket extended from said holder and positionedparallel to said arm, a support member slidably mounted on both the armand bracket spaced from the holder, an upwardly extended card holdingcasing carried by said support member, a pointer having spaced windowstherein positioned to ccact with a card on said card holding casing, anda stationary card holding frame carried by said bracket, spaced fromsaid card holding casing and extended upwardly above said casing.

4. A harmonica playing device as described in claim 3, having a bar withspaced openings therethrough slidably mounted in said body member andpositioned with the openings therein in registering relation with theopening of the mouth piece.

5. In combination with a harmonica playing device as described in claim3, a card having spaced rows of numerals thereon positioned in the cardholding casing, said numerals positioned to register with the windows ofthe pointer and a card having an arrangement of notes thereon positionedin said card holding frame and said notes numbered to correspond withthe numerals of the card in said card holding casing.

ANTHONY BALINT.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 922,121 Fraser May 18, 1909 1,573,242 Hand Feb. 16, 19261,722,852 Miller July 30, 1929 1,797,613 Peterson Mar. 24, 1931

